Because of parish benefices

Angry farmer strongly criticizes the diocese of Eisenstadt

The Diocese of Eisenstadt intends to manage leased land centrally in future.(Bild: Huber Patrick)

Josef Dorner feels cheated because the diocese of Eisenstadt wants to control the management of leased land itself in future. He is now lashing out and appealing to the charity of the Catholic Church.

Josef Dorner is furious and is currently one of many farmers who are voicing their displeasure at the diocese's new regulations on parish benefices. However, the "angry farmer" from Markt St. Martin is doing so in a humorous way. In his video message - which went viral at lightning speed - the farmer vented his anger that the diocese had terminated his contract. And with the new "horrendous lease price", which only "soldiers of fortune and hasbardeurs" would be prepared to pay, he could not bid, said Dorner.

There are rumblings among many farming families. I had to share the video message with as many people as possible because the diocese forced me to do so.

Josef Dorner

Bild: Josef Dorner

Cost-cutting measures: Cancellation of the church newspaper
He therefore wants to cancel the church newspaper and leave the church because, as a farmer, he also has to implement "cost-cutting measures". The step is not easy for him because his whole family is involved in church life and upholds Christian traditions. "There are rumblings among many farming families. I had to share the video message with as many people as possible because the diocese forced me to do it," explains Dorner, whose family has farmed several hectares of land belonging to the church for decades.

Rent benefits social security for priests
Specifically, the decree issued by Bishop Zsifkovics stipulates that the leasing of fields, meadows and forests should no longer be left to individual parishes, but to the central administration of the diocese. Existing lease agreements were terminated in due time. Under the new model, the income goes to the diocese, as before, and flows into a fund for the social security of priests. The new lease law, which is also being implemented in other dioceses, is expected to lead to greater efficiency and transparency. According to the diocese, interested parties should be given equal, fair and honest opportunities.

Cake for 1000 euros for the parish festival
And this is precisely where Dorner fears fraud, because "with this regulation, the farmers are exploiting each other". He himself wants to offer a corresponding amount of money and also donate a cake worth 1000 euros for the parish festival. "And if the diocese claims that no cake is worth 1000 euros, then I can say that the arable land isn't either," Dorner maintains his position. The diocese says: "We greatly appreciate the voluntary commitment of the Dorner family and thank them for it. However, it is important to emphasize that this commitment is not automatically linked to privileges in the lease and that such privileges would call into question the nature of voluntary work."